Who Would Fall in Love After Being Reborn? - Chapter 202: Bringing Home for New Year’s Eve Dinner

Crackle-pop!

Whiz-boom!

On the evening of the thirtieth day of the lunar year, a gigantic firework exploded over the banks of Beiya River, filling the sky with a shower of sparks and illuminating the night once darkened by dusk.

Jiang Qin stood with his hands in his pockets, leaning against a tree, his expression cool and detached, the colorful fireworks reflected in his eyes.

A cold breeze occasionally swept over the riverbank, ruffling the hair on his forehead, yet unable to disturb the calmness of his mind.

“Damn, I must be looking cooler than Daniel Wu right now, huh?”

He wondered if he might even surpass the suaveness of Leslie Cheung in the movie “Once a Thief,” wrapped in a black and white scarf, standing by the river.

“Nice one, Old Qin! Truly worthy of a second-generation rich kid from Jizhou. How about another one? Got anything like the Milan Night?”

“?????”

Qin Zi’ang, who was flamboyantly setting off fireworks by the river, turned around in confusion upon hearing the voice, and his face turned green when he spotted Jiang Qin applauding.

“Damn it, why is this guy here too?”

He thought angrily. The fireworks he had paid for were all being watched by Jiang Qin. Was there no justice? No law?

He signaled his underlings and moved his expensive fireworks to the other side of the riverbank.

And it worked. The second-generation rich kid really did have an aura around him – as he moved, most of the young girls by the river followed.

Jiang Qin sighed in resignation, thinking how utterly selfish that was. The fireworks were for everyone to see, and yet Qin Zi’ang was hoarding them all for himself, completely oblivious to the concept of efficient resource sharing.

“Uncle, want some roasted sweet potatoes? They’re hot and fresh!”

While talking, Yang Shu’an and Guo Zihang emerged from the opposite green belt, holding a plastic bag containing two plump roasted sweet potatoes.

“Since you’ve bought them, give me one.”

Jiang Qin took a sweet potato and tucked it into his down jacket’s pocket.

The old city district of Jizhou was undergoing a vigorous renovation, and due to various fire safety regulations, the government had long ago issued a notice prohibiting the use of fireworks and firecrackers.

However, a special area along the Beiya River had been designated for fireworks enthusiasts.

Since there was still some time before the New Year’s Eve dinner, Yang Shu’an and Guo Zihang suggested joining in on the fun.

Indeed, it was lively, with countless fireworks and many old classmates encountered.

“Jiang Qin!”

As Jiang Qin admired the fireworks, he saw a group of four or five people, both men and women, approaching him. They were his high school classmates.

Hong something, Yu something, and the girl with the ponytail must be Zhao something, and there was also a Qianqian.

“Long time no see, Jiang Qin.”

“Long time no see, Old Hong, Old Yu, Old Zhao, Qianqian.”

Jiang Qin greeted them calmly and confidently as if he knew their full names, not showing a hint of uncertainty.

Zhao Lu: “Old Zhao?”

Kong Qianqian: “Isn’t he being a bit too familiar?”

Jiang Qin noticed the strange expressions on the two girls’ faces and wondered if he had remembered wrong, but he didn’t care much.

For those whose names he couldn’t fully recall, recognizing them as “someone I seem to know” was already pretty good for a chance encounter.

“Do you need something?”

Hong Zhendong approached Jiang Qin and patted his shoulder, “Old Jiang, you’ve been quite the talk of the town recently. Everyone’s discussing you on QQ Space. At first, I was puzzled, thinking there’s no beast in our class, then I realized it was you!”

Jiang Qin smirked coldly, “I’ll give you another chance. You better have something important to discuss.”

“We just wanted to ask if it’s true that you’re dating Feng Nanshu. Is what they’re saying on Space real?”

“Slander, pure slander. The rumors these days are so outrageous, even I, the person involved, have no clue.”

Hong Zhendong immediately laughed, “I thought so. How could Feng Nanshu possibly be dating? Qin Zi’ang also said it was false. Now that you’ve clarified it, we can rest easy.”

Zhao Lu and Kong Qianqian were also laughing, “I knew it couldn’t be true. I don’t know who started it, but some people even said you and Feng Nanshu were holding hands at the temple fair.”

“Come on, Jiang Qin, tell us the truth. Were you just bragging after a few drinks?” Yu Yiyang winked at him.

Jiang Qin shook his head, “I don’t know, but dating is absolutely out of the question. Remember to help me dispel such rumors if you hear them again.”

Kong Qianqian couldn’t help but purse her lips, “Jiang Qin, it seems like you’re involved in a scandal every year. Last year it was with Chu Siqi, and now even Feng Nanshu is implicated. It’s getting more and more fantastical. Are you sure you’re not the one spreading these?”

Hong Zhendong coughed, “That’s what makes Old Jiang brave. The heroines in his stories are getting prettier and prettier. He even dares to make up stories about Feng Nanshu!”

“…”

While they were talking, a rustling sound came from the grass behind Jiang Qin. It was the sound of dry winter grass being crushed underfoot.

Feng Nanshu, dressed in a white cotton coat, walked over. The reflection of the sparkling fireworks in her lively eyes, the cold wind softly brushing the fine hairs on the brim of her hat, gently caressing her cold yet stunning face.

She hadn’t expected so many people around Jiang Qin, her face turning cold but her heart pounding, slightly panicked, then quietly approached from behind Jiang Qin.

“Did you finish your call with Gao Wenhui?”

“Yes, I did. She asked me to wish you a happy new year on her behalf,” Feng Nanshu said softly.

Jiang Qin smacked his lips, “I’m the boss, after all. Couldn’t she make a New Year’s call herself?”

“She said it’s more intimate to convey it through someone else, like a family.”

“?????”

Suddenly, Feng Nanshu lowered her head and reached out to Jiang Qin’s pocket, but was stopped before she could reach in.

The next second, Jiang Qin pulled out the roasted sweet potato from his pocket, his face showing a look of relief.

“Your hand is too strong. If I hadn’t stopped you, I’d be infamous by tomorrow. They’d say Jiang Qin has a hot ‘something’ in his pocket. Damn, the thought alone scares me.”

Feng Nanshu, unable to follow his train of thought, spoke plainly, “Jiang Qin, I want to watch the fireworks.”

Jiang Qin glanced towards the south side of the riverbank, “Qin Zi’ang moved all the fireworks he bought to the east side. Let’s go, I’ll take you to him.”

“Hold hands and go find him,” Feng Nanshu extended her hand, her face expressionless.

“No.”

“Big brother, please.”

After a moment of silence, Jiang Qin raised a finger, “It’s the New Year, I’ll allow you this rebellion.”

Feng Nanshu nodded emotionlessly, and then her hand was firmly held as they chased after Qin Zi’ang.

Seeing this, Hong Zhendong, Yu Yiyang, Zhao Lu, and Kong Qianqian were speechless for a long time, their scalps tingling, unable to utter a word or move, feeling as if everything they witnessed was as surreal as the fireworks above, dreamlike and unreal.

Guo Zihang and Yang Shu’an were squatting nearby, eating sweet potatoes and watching the whole scene, their mouths twisted in amusement.

“I’ve always told my father-in-law, don’t be too modest. Look, his modesty has only led to intensified arrogance.”

“Old Guo, well said. Do you have more? Say a couple more lines, I love to hear them,” Yang Shu’an’s eyes sparkled.

Guo Zihang struggled for a while, “I knew I shouldn’t have bought roasted sweet potatoes earlier. Should’ve bought popcorn instead. Almost the right flavor.”

“That one was a bit off.”

Hong Zhendong and the others couldn’t listen anymore and turned to leave, silent all the way. Just a few steps away, a noisy commotion erupted from the north side of the riverbank.

“Damn it, that’s my fireworks, Jiang Qin, put them down!”

“Kids shouldn’t play with these, you might get burned. Let uncle show you how to safely set off fireworks.”

“You’re so shameless. If you want to set off fireworks, buy your own!”

“I’m a rich first-generation, personally setting off fireworks for you to watch. What more could you ask for?”

“Whiz-boom!”

The splendid fireworks burst in the night sky, scattering like brilliant golden sand, twinkling and dazzling. The banks of the river were lit as if it were daylight, the water itself reflecting the vibrant colors.

Feng Nanshu, holding a sweet potato, gazed up with a naive and tranquil expression, quietly watching the sparks.

Meanwhile, Qin Zi’ang stood on the riverbank with a lighter in his hand, his expression like that of a girl who had been wronged.

After a while, when the fireworks were over, Jiang Qin received a call from home, urging him to return for the New Year’s Eve dinner.

“Little rich lady, my mom is calling me home for the New Year’s Eve dinner.”

“I should go home too, then.”

“Do you have a New Year’s Eve dinner to eat?”

Feng Nanshu nodded lightly, “I have a meal to eat.”

“Feng Nanshu, it’s only a New Year’s Eve dinner if you eat it with family,” Jiang Qin said after some thought.

“…”

Feng Nanshu looked at the distant fireworks, pretending to be nonchalant.

Jiang Qin clicked his tongue, held her hand, and got into the car. Throughout the journey, the little rich lady barely spoke, her expression as cold as in their senior year of high school.

Thump, thump, thump—

Hongrong Homes, Jiang’s house.

Yuan Youqin was directing Jiang Zhenghong in cooking dumplings and stewing dishes. Hearing the knock on the door, she immediately left the kitchen, but her expression was not pleasant.

She had sent the “stinky kid” out to buy vinegar since the convenience store downstairs was closing at six, and without it, there would be no dipping sauce for the dumplings until the third day of the lunar new year. Jiang Qin had been gone for over two hours and had only just returned.

“Did you have to go to Shanxi to buy vinegar?!”

Feng Nanshu stood timidly at the door, “Ah, Auntie.”

Yuan Youqin was taken aback, then put on a loving smile, “You must be Nanshu, right? Come in, come in. The dumplings are ready. If I had known you were coming, I would have prepared a red envelope for you.”

“I don’t need a red envelope,” Feng Nanshu waved her hand.

“How can that be? I’ll just open Jiang Qin’s and give it to you. By the way, where did Jiang Qin go?”

As soon as she finished speaking, the door was knocked again. Jiang Qin walked in helplessly, empty-handed, “Mom, the store downstairs is closed. I couldn’t buy the vinegar.”

“Never mind, go wash your hands and get ready for dinner.”

“?”

Jiang Qin’s mouth twitched slightly, thinking that under normal circumstances, wouldn’t she have scolded him for half an hour?

AN: To give me inspiration, hurry and write some book reviews for me!